RC44 AUSTRIA CUP: GMUNDNER MYSTERY The AEZ RC44 Sailing Team slipped back to sixth place in the Austria Cup, but still has high hopes. The RC44 Austria Cup, third station of the Championship Series 2012, continues to be exhilarating and not for the faint of heart. The Fleet Race decision was made on the second day after three further rounds were carried out. However, the conditions were further aggravated due to a stream of oncoming thunderclouds. All of the races were accompanied by spinning bursts of wind, which characterized the final decision with some surprising upshots in the last meters of the race. Artemis came out on top with two wins, making them the best in the round. With that, the Swedish syndicate takes the overall lead in the preliminaries. The AEZ RC44 Sailing Team  had some more really strong moments, getting away with a tenth and two seventh places. Mangold and Co. were flushed out in round one from fifth place to tenth due to a questionable penalty. In both of the other races, the AEZ crew sailed merely a few seconds and meters past the podium. With that the Austrian syndicate is in sixth place, with the podium being only three points away. Up to four further rounds are planned for tomorrow, and the RC44 Austria Cup will be concluded on Sunday.

Voices / Rene Mangold: "Today we sailed very actively and quickly, but ran into some bad luck at the finish line. We went over the line twice in a group of four, five boats and both times we finished behind by only a meter. The penalty was also unlucky, but referee decisions are made and must be accepted. In all we are not unsatisfied, because we're still very much in the game. Actually we're only missing three points for the podium, but there is not much room for error, as there are plenty of others hot on our tails. If the wind plays along, we will still have seven races, and anybody could win the race, even those who are now placed at the end of the field. We're looking from race to race and hope for good nerves and a place in the upper half." Fleet Race/Zwischenstand nach fünf Wettfahrten: 1. Artemis (SWE) 23 2. Ceeref (SLO) 27 3. Aqua (GBR) 28 4. Nika (RUS) 31 5. No Way Back (NED) 31 6. AEZ RC44 Sailing Team (AUT) 31 (6,1,10,7,7)  Link: http://www.rc44.at/, http://www.rc44.com/

Top